Isaiah 27:1
In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the fleeing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. Punishes Twice: 1. The Fleeing (sometimes translated: piercing) Serpent: Satan kicked out of heaven. A prophecy foretold in Genesis, to be fulfilled upon Christ's death and resurrection; and upon Christ's ascendance into heaven, Satan is cast down to earth. Notice the contrast. The word for fleeing: Strong's #1281: bariyach (pronounced baw-ree'-akh) or (shortened) bariach {baw-ree'-akh}; from 1272; a fugitive, i.e. the serpent (as fleeing), and the constellation by that name:--crooked, noble, piercing. This word fugitive-- perhaps a fugitive from God's presence in heaven. Genesis 3:14-15 14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust (Gen 3:19) shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (a prophecy fulfilled upon Christ's death). Revelation 12:1-12 The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon12 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Satan Thrown Out of Heaven7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus also mentions this fall in Luke 10:18 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 2. The Crooked/Twisted/Perverse Serpent The next punishment of Satan occurs in Revelation 20; he is bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit, the Abyss (not the lake of fire yet), during Christ's Millennial Kingdom reign. 1. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. Slays Once: 3. The Dragon that is in the Sea (The sea as in many nations perhaps; he is no longer able to deceive the nations of men) Satan is cast into the lake of fire, hell, for eternity. He is defeated, slain, once and for all, forever and ever. 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. The Beatitudes
A. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. B. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. B. Blessed are the meek (humble and submissive), for they will inherit the earth (land). C. 1. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. C. 2. Blessed are the merciful (forgiving and compassionate), for they will be shown mercy. D. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. D. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. A. 2. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. As: Poor (in spirit) ~to~ Rich (Great Reward in Heaven); both receive the kingdom of heaven Bs: Loss (grieving involves loss) ~to~ Gain (inheritance) Cs: Wanting (righteousness) and Receiving ~to~ Giving (mercy) and Receiving Ds: Recognize God (see God) ~to~ being recognized by God (called His children) A1C1: Impoverished (Recognition of needing God) ~to~ Filled with Righteousness A2C2: Given mercy by God ~to~ Given no mercy by the world (persecuted) Bs: Loss to Gain. Mourning occurs when a loss is experienced, whether over a universal consequence of sin like death, or a disconnection from God due to our trespasses that need to be forgiven. Humility and submission is required in order to ask forgiveness: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. The meek are those who have humbled themselves in submission to God and have been given grace throughout their lives, so that it is now a character trait, something automatic that defines the soul rather than a onetime act; it is continual submission to God's authority. These meek inherit the earth/land. This reminds me of Israel gone into captivity; they are humbled by God after they are taken out of the land that was promised to them if only they upheld God's laws; they mourn (see Lamentations for instance) in the land of Babylon for the losses they have experienced. But the children of Zion that return to the promise land are the meek, humbled to the point of renewed obedience, and inheriting the land again upon their release from captivity. Inheriting is a gain, so it goes from mourning (a loss) to being comforted and gaining the earth/land, the good which was promised by God when we obey His word. A1 C1: Impoverished to Filled The poor in spirit are those that recognize their great need for God, that without Him their lives would be impoverished, lacking substance and meaning. Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, that desire what only God can give them, and thereby rejecting the excess of the desires of the flesh, are filled instead with the Spirit, which produces righteousness: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth The poor in spirit are those who mourn, those that are humble and submissive toward God, those that hunger and thirst and desire to be filled. It is interesting to note the progression of the first half of these beatitudes: It starts with the poverty of spirit, a recognition of something lacking, which is God's Spirit, which brings fruits of righteousness. Then it moves to mourning, sorrow over a sin committed and sin's consequences, then humility, submission to God's authority, then hungering for righteousness, God's Holy Spirit to fill, instead of filling up with wine and sinful desires. The first half is completed. The second half begins with having forgiveness and compassion on others, a quality that we fully possess when we experience how much we have been loved and forgiven by God; and if we refuse to forgive others, God will use that same measure against us. The heart becomes pure following mercy, loving others so well, and it is easier to see God at that point, being closer to Him; God desires mercy not sacrifice, not empty ritual but love. Then we become peacemakers, able to help others with their burdens and calling them to serve God as well, and having peace with God upon a declaration of their faith; we are recognized as being part of the family of God, because that is what we are called to do by God as brothers and sisters: to go the extra mile, and make disciples who will also become peacemakers in the world. The final stage is a great test for those that are of the family of God, persecution. Those that that stand firm in the faith in the face of such a test have flesh in the game, and reason to rejoice, for though the natural response of persecution and suffering might be to feel poor, reviled and mournful, there is great reward for those that have suffered with Christ and the prophets. More simply said: First comes the recognition of our impoverished state Which leads to mourning our state, which means Coming before God in humility, in submission and obedience, To seek and be filled with His Spirit of righteousness. We then are better able to give mercy to others as we have been given mercy, Which creates in us a pure heart and closeness to God; God recognizes us as children as we get closer to Him, and charges us To make disciples, that others may have peace with God having been justified by faith, And to such an extent that we would share in the sufferings of His son, Christ Jesus, for no servant is greater than His master. 1. Strong Wind: The wind here is a destructive force, crumbling mountains and rocks (symbols of kingdoms); Winds are associated with rain, see 1 Kings 18:45, 2 Kings 3:17, Psalms 135:7, Proverbs 25:14 for examples. Drought can damage a kingdom; and it did not rain for three years in Northern Israel until Elijah said so. 2. Earthquake: The earth is associated with the realm of death, sheol; this abode of death (called hell in KJV) is below or beneath. See Ezekiel 31:16, Isaiah 14:9, Isaiah 14:15, Proverbs 7:27, Psalms 86:13. An earthquake is directly associated with resurrection. Many graves were opened after Christ resurrected; see Matthew 27:51-53. Elijah resurrects the widow’s dead son. 3. Fire: Fire is called down from heaven to consume the sacrifice that Elijah prepared in the show down between God’s prophet and Baal’s prophets. All three miracles are performed by Elijah before he goes to Mt. Horeb to speak with God. It is interesting to note that God provides for Elijah in a similar way that God provided for Israel in the wilderness; bread and flesh was given to him by ravens, just like manna and quail is provided by God to Israel. The brook Elijah is dwelling by dries up and he must move on; in a similar fashion Israel finds themselves without water to drink in the wilderness on several occasions. Then God uses a still small voice. Soothing and comforting. The word for small here is also used to describe manna and sweet incense in other instances. The word for still is used only two other times; once to describe a storm over the waves of the sea being calmed, and the other time is in Job; Job hears a spirit’s (wind or angel?) voice speak of the justice and purity of God. At some point, the storm will need to be calmed, and the power of God will be used in other ways. In this case, Elijah was commissioned by God to anoint two kings, Jehu being one who will destroy Baal worship in Northern Israel and cleanse the temple; the other is Hazael, who reigns over Syria, turning it into a great kingdom, and who will be used by God to punish both Northern Israel and Judah. And Elisha will be anointed to continue the work of Elijah. All three displays of God's might are there when Elijah ascends: 1. Elijah ascends to heaven in a whirlwind. 2. Elijah does not die, but ascends from the earth. 3. The chariot of fire separates him from Elisha before his ascension. Works do not provide salvation,
Salvation provides works. A tree is known by its fruit. 1. Israel. Pre-Christ. Tribes to Kingdom. Stage one: The Tabernacle, Pre-temple (see Revelation 21:2-3 for the association between tabernacle and Jerusalem). Stage two: Davidic Kingdom. First Jerusalem and First Temple. Stage three is the fallen Davidic kingdom of Israel, from 538 BC to 70 AD. Second Jerusalem and Second Temple (Rebuilt). 2. The Church. In Christ. The people of a spiritual kingdom to the people of a concrete kingdom. Stage one: The Church. Pre-glorification. Stage two: Millennial Kingdom. Christ reigns with an iron rod in a rebuilt Jerusalem with a rebuilt temple. Stage three is the New Heaven and Earth which is eternal: New Jerusalem, without a temple (The Bride, The Glorified Church; see Revelation 22). Without End. The second part of the 70 7s prophecy involves understanding where the 62 7s start and end.
I think it gets trickier here, but I also believe it can be known, and that it is good that it is known because it involves our Savior, Jesus our Messiah. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. The word dabar remains a key word. Another key element is that the streets and wall will be built again. We know that Nehemiah rebuilt the gates and the walls, and that the gates are connected to the streets (see Nehemiah 8:16 for example). Looking at Nehemiah 2:18 we find the word dabar again, in reference to the word of Artaxerxes, the king that allowed Nehemiah his cupbearer to rebuild the wall. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. I believe this word to complete the wall was given in 446 BC, the 20th year of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:1), and exactly 140 years (strangely two 70 year periods) from 586 BC, when the walls came down as Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the first temple. 62 times 7 is 434 years; this does not get us to our Messiah's birth. However, there is an important time (a 7) that falls along with the 62 weeks: the week of Antiochus IV, who sets up an abomination in the temple (an altar to Zeus), and who foreshadows the antichrist to come. This is the last 7 we see in this prophecy: 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. If the 62 7s and the 1 7 are added together, we get 441 years. 446 minus 441 gives us 5 BC, a very likely time for Christ's birth (it must be before Herod's death). I believe the 7 7s and 62 7s are separate but also enjoined, and share the portion of the prophecy that explains a Messiah will come. Zerubbabel (end of 7 7s) foreshadows Christ come (end of 62 7s). Antiochus IV foreshadows the antichrist, the Beast, in the 1 7. Now let's look at verse 26: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. After the 62 7s Messiah is cut off. I do not think this cutting off has to be right after the 62 7s are completed, the text simply says after. I do believe the structure of the text implies that a Messiah will come when the 62 weeks are completed: "till Messiah the Leader [is] seven weeks, and sixty and two weeks". YLT. Messiah is cut (karath) the same word used when "cutting a covenant" which involved making a sacrifice to seal the deal between two parties. Christ is that sacrifice, a New Covenant was made with mankind. After this, Rome comes (the people of the prince, Titus) and destroys Jerusalem and the temple. Fulfilled in 70 AD. The structure further instructs that both the 7 7s and 62 7s are connected to the rebuilding. The end of the 7 7s is the rebuilding of Jerusalem ("broad place" like city plazas and streets and "trenches" for walls and fortifications, like the temple walls) and the beginning of the 62 7s is the rebuilding of Jerusalem again (gates, which are connected to streets and broad places and plazas, and the trenches, fortifications, walls). Here is YLT again divided in three: A. ...from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem till Messiah the Leader B. [is] seven weeks, and sixty and two weeks: C. the broad place hath been built again, and the rampart, even in the distress of the times. Patterns of the Decalogue:
On Two Tablets The First Five: Tablet One A. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. B. 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. C. 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. B. 4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. A. 5. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives thee. As: Brought out of Egypt/no other elohim (spiritual authorities, believers are sons of God, the one true authority) ~to~ Honor parents (children's authorities)/Live long in the promise land. Bs: Do not worship idols that image creation ~to~ Keep sabbath for God made all creation. This is an inverse pattern, it goes from Do-not to Do, And from the land of Egypt/bondage to the Promise Land. The Second Five: Tablet Two 6. Thou shalt not kill. 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Thou shalt not steal. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. The 3 and 7 Pattern: That leaves yet another interesting pattern, the 3 and 7, two of this most meaningful numbers in Scripture, for they both belong to God personally (3 Persons and 7 Spirits). Remember, Christ summed the Law by saying Love your God, and love your neighbor. This is the 3 and 7 split. Remember, God's people are neighbor's too, and His Spirit rests on them. The first three commandments all concern God directly: No other gods/authorities before Him; God is the ultimate Authority. No idols that image His creation; God has an image, and people are created in it, and the ultimate image of God is Christ, who alone is worthy of worship. No using His name in vain. God has a personal name, it's YHWH. I AM that I AM. The next 7 commandments primarily concern others, including keeping sabbath, for sons and daughters and servants and cattle and strangers are all mentioned here, and it is this interesting wording that is partially repeated in the tenth commandment, bookending the 7 commandments. And, God is not a day of the week. He finished his work on the sabbath, so it is for us to keep holy, because God hallowed it by resting on it. Finally, these commandments are coupled: No other gods before me and Do not make idols to worship (false gods to worship). Do not take the Lord's name in vain (keep it hallowed) and Keep the sabbath holy. Honor thy parents (your life givers) and Do not murder (life taking). Do not commit adultery and Do not steal (your neighbor's wife included). Do not bear false witness against your neighbor and Do not covet your neighbor's anything. The image of God is personhood. It is to be a person.
Seth was born in the likeness (physical similitude) and image of Adam (Gen 5:3). God is not an impersonal force like "Nature" or "the Universe"; God is not animal or a tree or any created thing like the idols of old falsely depicted; God is not an abstract idea or social construction; God is a person, a Spirit. He has thoughts and emotional responses to events, He has a will, and even a body in the person of Christ, both in the numinous realm and the physical realm. And man is a person with spirit; we have awareness and consciousness, And the ability to give things meaning which creates a sense of duty and purpose to be fulfilled. We are capable of having a more intimate relationship with God and with our fellow man: We are capable of being aware of God and understanding who He is In order to complete a good work in obedience to God based on this understanding. The first level of personhood is of flesh and spirit, being born into this world like all people, a living soul. The second level is of the Holy Spirit, born again, becoming like Christ, The perfect imager of God the Father, and sharing in His resurrection when we that believe In Him will rise from grave and be given glorified bodies that will not die, The way we were intended to be when first created in His image. Knowledge gives you the structure, the foundation of awareness to build on.
Understanding is giving meaning and interpretation to the knowledge you have acquired. It is the building on top of the structure. It's giving shape and definition to the bare bones. Wisdom is the application, what you do with the house you have built. |
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